On June 30, 2017, “Anisong World Matsuri at Anime Expo 2017 ~Japan Kawaii Live~” was presented at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

The concert was held at Anime Expo, the largest anime convention in North America, and was produced by Japan’s leading entertainment companies with the goal of delivering Japan’s anisong concerts worldwide in the highest quality. Four artists – Aqours, JUNNA & Minori Suzuki from Walküre, THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS, and Wake Up, Girls！ delivered a thrilling performance full of popular anisongs in front of 7,000 fans which lasted for more than two and a half hours.

Official merchandise such as T-shirts, artist merchandise, and CDs were sold outside of the venue before the show. Local fans arrived at the concert venue wearing anime T-shirts and carrying anime goods.

The first artist on stage was THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS, performing with a special selection of performers: Asami Takano, Haruka Yoshimura, Hiromi Igarashi, Rei Matsuzaki, Tomoyo Kurosawa, and Yuko Iida. This was the group’s first time performing outside of Asia. The members wore the red military uniform costumes from their current tour “THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS 5thLIVE TOUR Serendipity Parade!!!” and performed many songs from the TV anime “THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS”.

The next artist on stage was Wake Up, Girls！. The full lineup of seven members performed their cutest hits such as “Tachiagare!” and “Beyond the Bottom”. Their breathtaking comical dance performance fascinated the audience.

Coming next were JUNNA & Minori Suzuki from Walküre. As they sang songs from the TV anime “Macross Delta”, which is where their unit began, the venue was covered in the glow of penlights. Being the first members representing the group to perform outside of Japan, the two girls did their best to greet the excited fans in English.

The last group to take the stage was Aqours. When the nine members gathered on stage, the audience went crazy with loud cheers and screams. While they performed “Aozora Jumping Heart”, the huge screen on stage played the music video with all anime characters dancing the same moves along with the nine members as the crowd’s excitement reached maximum level. During the MC, Rikako Aida and Nanaka Suwa, who have studied abroad in the past, translated the members’ Japanese into English. Their performance ended with “Yume Kataru Yori Yume Utaou”.

After Aqours left the stage, the cries for “encore” started immediately, with loud chants from the theater full of fans. All the performers reappeared on stage to thank the fans and bring the first sold-out show of Anisong World Matsuri at Microsoft Theater to a successful end.

The following day, anisong artists ALI PROJECT, angela, Mashiro Ayano, Minori Chihara, GARNiDELiA, and Konomi Suzuki performed with a live band for “Anisong World Matsuri at Anime Expo 2017 ~Japan Super Live~”.

The Anisong World Matsuri tour will continue in Shanghai, China, at the already sold-out Mercedes-Benz Arena. The final performance this summer will take place at Otakon 2017 with the lineup of FLOW, T.M. Revolution, Yousei Teikoku, and JAM Project.

ANISONG WORLD MATSURI
With the goal of delivering Japan’s anisong concerts worldwide in the highest quality, Japan’s leading entertainment companies teamed up to produce Anisong World Matsuri.

The first Anisong World Matsuri was held in July 2016 at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, California at the Microsoft Theater and multiple other venues for a total attendance of over 18,000. In 2017, Anisong World Matsuri returns to deliver anisong to fans in the United States and the world.